Gifted Connections 4

I made a weird sound between a snort and a tone of shock at the images that flashed across my mind from just her words. “No,” I groaned. “You forget you are three hours behind us. It’s past midnight here, and it’s been a long day. Remember? Sparring, reopened my arm, visit to the clinic?”

“Oh yeah,” she said brightly. “Well, I’ll let you go. I hope you kicked the other person’s ass.”

I smiled. “I did win,” I informed her.

I heard Adams snort from the other side of the room. She apparently was eavesdropping on my conversation.

“Good!” she enthused. “Can I talk to Linc again?”

“Sure,” I agreed before I grabbed a couple bottles of water and Jemmy’s plate. I handed Jemmy her plate and gave the waters to Noah and Lincoln. “Linc it’s for you,” I leaned towards him.

“Thanks,” he murmured as he grabbed the phone. I couldn’t help but notice his casual caress of my neck as he did.

I looked up at him startled, but at his deadpan expression, I knew I must have imagined it.

“Jemmy, did you want a water or a can of pop?” I asked her as I went back over to the fridge.

“Pop’s good,” she stated.

“I’ll get it,” Drake insisted as he exited the walk in. “Please go eat, Blake. You too, Dawn. Thank you so much for your help.”

“You’ve been working hard tonight,” I said softly to him. “I can help out.”

“You also got hurt today,” he said as he tweaked my nose fondly. “Go eat, before I punish you,” he murmured in my ear suggestively.

I looked up at him with an impish smile. “It’s not a punishment if I like it,’ I murmured back to him.

He laughed and shook his head. “You’re in so much trouble next time I get my hands on you.”

“Promises, promises,” I said with tongue in cheek as I walked back over to the prep table.

“Back to Face Off?” Dawn asked as I took the milk crate and climbed back up next to her and Lincoln. I would have typically just jumped up, but my left arm was in pain, and I didn’t want to push it any further.

I tried not to notice how close Lincoln’s thighs were to mine as he continued to quietly talk on his phone and eat.

“Yes, please,” I told her. “Where has this show been all my life? I bet you Gavin, Micah, and Patrick would enjoy it, too.”

“It’s on Hulu,” she said as she pushed play. “I’ll give you my login, and they can start watching it.”

“Thanks,” I smiled as I took a bite of my now cold food. I didn’t care. It still tasted good.

I looked up as the doors swung open. Remy, Jace, Jaxson, Troy, Terrance, Gavin, and Sierra walked in.

“Is there any more food left?” Terrance asked hopefully as he rubbed his stomach.

“There is,” Drake stated. “White, wheat, rye, or sourdough?” he asked as he stood in front of the toaster.

Everyone rattled off their bread preference as Lincoln ended his phone call.

“What’cha watching?” Jaxson asked as he inserted himself into our personal spaces.

“Really, Jaxson?” Dawn laughed as she jokingly pushed him away. “Have you never heard about the bubble?”

“What’s a bubble?” Jaxson asked with feigned naivety.

“Seriously, he has no clue what the bubble is,” Remy stated dryly as he scrutinized me. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“Shouldn’t you?” I replied back with a playful grin.